English

Departmental Staff

S T Chevalier, MA (Oxford) Head of English
Ms K Knoesen, BA (Rand Afrikaans, South Africa)
Miss K Murray, BA, MEd (Cardiff, Fontys)
Miss E Newton, BA (Cambridge)
Miss S E Robinson, BA (Birmingham)
Mrs K Scaglione, BA (Keele)
Mrs P Smithson, BA, MA (Exeter, Sydney)

English at RGS

Results in recent public examinations have been impressive.  At GCSE, students achieved almost 100% A* to C pass rate in each subject, with 76% A*/A grades in English and 70% A*/A in Literature on average over the past three years. We are currently teaching Edexcel’s IGCSE English Language course, with 100% examination, whilst we use AQA for English Literature. With the WJEC A-Level English Literature, we are similarly delighted by our recent results which show year on year improvement: in 2011 over 85% of grades were A*-B, with 60% at A*/A.  We are excited by the possibilities offered by the changes at GCSE level and particularly keen to ensure that the spirit and practice of wider reading and independent study are established and maintained by students especially those who go on to take English Literature at A-Level.  Each A-Level English student is also expected to attend one of our senior extra-curricular clubs and/or help with First Form English lessons or junior clubs, whilst we also offer extension activities to those interested in taking English at degree level, such as shadowing literary prizes and entering poetry and essay competitions.

Regular theatre visits and author visits are organised by staff and we celebrate National Poetry Day and World Book Day in style, varying our programme of events each year. Creative writing is keenly promoted, with work published online and creative responses displayed in classrooms and on the English noticeboard. We are currently developing the debating skills of our younger students, as well as offering lunchtime clubs that explore twenty-first century approaches to text.  We work very closely with the School Librarian, and all KS3 classes have regular library lessons to encourage wider reading and research skills.

Our website not only provides information for all interested, but also showcases exceptional student responses and reflects the enthusiasm and flair of this department. 

For a summary of the course please click here.  

Examination Boards

IGCSE English Language:                      Edexcel (4AEO)
GCSE English Literature:                       AQA (4710) A-level GCE English Literature:                                             WJEC

Examination Results: English Language

Examination Results: English Literature

Departmental activities 2010-11

The English Department has continued in its quest to encourage as many students as possible to enjoy literature in all of its forms. We have been very fortunate to have been able to welcome a plethora of writers and artists in to work with students of all ages this year and have offered weekly clubs catering for eclectic tastes in reading and writing.

On National Poetry Day, students produced poetry on the theme of home and a School wall of poetry was established online with poems representing each subject taught here. A Shakespearean acting troupe entertained the fifth form with a performance of Romeo and Juliet, usefully just as the students prepared to write about the play for coursework: the Q&A session was certainly focused. The shared History and English trip to the Belgium battlefields in February saw the composition of many moving sonnets, some of which can be read in this year’s edition of The Pilgrim. On World Book Day, we were fortunate to be joined by the children’s writer, Sally Nichols, whose book Ways to Live Forever has been made into a film. Students were given an insight into how films were made when the producer of a new British comedy, Chalet Girls, gave a lunchtime presentation on the role she played in its production.

The fourth form enjoyed the witty and brilliant speech of the winner of the public speaking salver, Will Appleyard. The Bevis Hillier Creative writing trophy was awarded to Ellis Clarke and we were privileged to welcome the man after whom the trophy is named to the award ceremony; his speech to the fifth form was an interesting insight into the world of writing, as well as being both inspiring and humorous in equal measure. During the summer enrichment week, we invited two more inspiring artists in to work with the students. Cathy Brett, a writer and illustrator, helped the students begin upon their journey into the very modern, graphic novel form and Ash Dickinson, a spoken word artist, work-shopped lyrical masterpieces with the fourth form. Junior and Senior Writing Workshops continued to thrive with a new focus on hypertext, as did our Film Society, where Sixth formers learn how to shoot and edit short films, as well as exploring the semiotics of the film medium. The Senior Reading group has enjoyed continued popularity this year where a fascinating range of novels have been shared in regular meetings; the junior readers shadowed the Carnegie Award with an exciting shortlist to read and review online.

The Sixth form have been offered an enormous range of opportunities and support as they have explored the complexities of A-Level English Literature. Exploring King Lear was enriched by a trip to the Greg Hicks’ performance in London as well as attendance at lectures given by Shakespearean experts. The creative writing coursework was also supported by two visits by a published poet and winner of prestigious poetry awards, Jane Draycott, who gave them excellent advice and encouragement on writing poetry. The T S Eliot poetry prize was shadowed this year and students had the opportunity to read and discuss the ten shortlisted titles over the Autumn term. Finally, the students exploring Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray took in the recent V&A exhibition on Aestheticism to set their study in context.

English Department clubs for 2011-12

Exploring film club (2nd yr +upwards)                           
Lower School graphic novel / reading club     
Lower School writing workshop  
Lower School debating club                       
Upper school book group        
Hypertext writing (Upper School/Sixth Form)
Sixth form exploring literature group 
Film making club (6th form)